Card feeder



March 31. 1925.

' 1,531,944y J. B. HOWE CARD FEEDER Filed May 15 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A41, Y I

Patented Mer. 3l, 1925.

oserei e. Hows, or WORCESTER, masseenossfr'rs, esistono-s fro onction sneew'oon e son, or Bosof, Messaorrosnxrs, A oorsirrrtnnsnr oovssrlvo or snivn HARWOOD A'Nn JOHN E. ieRv/*oon ohren erinnert;

Applicaties inea tray 15,1923. ser-iai ne; 639,103.

To @ZZ wlw/.e i may concern Be it .known that l., Josemi B. Howe, a citizen ot the United States roli America, and resident oi llilorcester, in the county ot lVorcester and State of hllassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Card Feeders, or Wiich the following is a specification.

rlhis invention pertains to feeding mechanisin tor carding` machines and relates more particulacl37 to automatic Weighing inschanisin for usein rsuch machines.V

For coi'ivenience in illustration the present invent-ion is shown as applied to a lrainivell feeder provided with automatic weighing niechanisni ot' the general character disclosed in the patent to Howe No. ld, Gctober 31, 192:2.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide nica-ns, operati-ngz independentlj,7 ot the tipping ot' the scale beani under load and which normally imposes no restraint upon the scale beain such as would intertere with the delicacy or accuracy ot the Weighingv operation7 for controllingl the opening and closing` ott the scale pan; to provide tor the independenttiining and adjustment of the inea-ns for opening the pan and the pan closing andV beain restoring means; and to provide means for quiclrlfv,T and positiver;T dainpingg` the oscillations ot the scale pan about its pivotal axis on the beain when the pan is restored to normal position after duinipiing7 but which does not interfere with its freedom to turn on its artis during loading` and descent.

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation ot a. Brainivell feeder eniliodying the present invention, the sca-le pan being shown in loading position;

2 is a fragmentary end elevation, to l@ @er scalo, showing,l` the scale pan in duinping# position and just beginning to open;

Fig. 3 is a Ytraginentary end'elevation ot the scale pan and associated parts7 showing the pan fully open-5 and Fig'. e is a viev.r similar to Fig. 2 but shown the closed pan at the instant ot its restoration to loading position. f

heter-ring` to the drawings, the numeral of. e l of the 'trarne oit a Brani- 'eeder or substantially usual type. feeder is provided with a bin 2 at its rear end tor the reception et the Vliber to be 1 indicates on eno.

4 Meli treated. A shaft l extends across the up- `per portion ot' the bin and siipports a vi.-

brating apron, not shown, While a shaft l is jour-nalled at the upper rear portion of th'eran'ie and supports and actuatcs an oscillating coinb, not shown.

rt the lront ot the machine a forwardly projectingl bracket o is provided which sup ports an endless conveyor 6 which is driven by ineens ot a shaft 7 receiving its motion troni a cardii'ig machine, notv sho'vfn, with which the machine herein disclosed is asso` ciated. A n'iain drive shaft 8 is journalled in hearings in the lover part of the traine and this shaft is provided With a pulley or other driving` nieans reeeivii'ig its inotion 'troni any desired source, while a shaft 9 is journall'ed in bearings in the 'traine just above and tothe rear ot the inai'n shaft 8 and is driven by ineans ot a gear 10 carried by the rnain` shaft. A pulley 11 is secured to the shaft 9'. L shaft 12 is journalled in bearings at thev upper part ot the traine and this shatt is provided with a. clutch inschanisnr7 con'i'pris'ing a pullej,Y 13 which is driven by means of a belt troni the pulley 11. A shaft 1d; extends across the Ytraine at its lower part and is provided with a roller or other suitable nieans for guiding an endless spike' apron which passes over a driving roller n'iounted on the shaft 12; At the front of the niachine near its top a shaft 15 is journalled which receives intermittent oscillating' motion :trom the shaft 12.

The clutch mechanism tor driving the shaft 12 comprises a disengaging elenient 17 provided vvith projecting' teeth 18, this clutch beingvit desireth ot the type disclosed in the patent to Howe No. 998,003 July 18,1911. rlhe disengaging element 17 is actuated to stop the' shaft 'l2 by ineans of a countertveightod dog` 19 which is norinally held in inoperative position by means o1" a trip deviee'QO?r having` an' arcuate end en gaging` a lug 19a on the dog. The other end ot' the trip device'is connected to a rod 20 passing; downward through an opening in thev arin 21 ot the scale beain and provided with a` spring which bears resiliently against the arnr.v

rllhe Weighing mechanism comprises a composite `cale beaui consisting or like ineinb" such 21 disposed at opposite sides oit the niacfine and iulerunied on. sup-f porting brackets such as 22. The members 2l are preferably counteriveighted as indicated as at 23 and are turned upwardly at their' iorivard ends to provide bearings at 24 for the opposite ends of a pivotally supported scale pan 25.

This scale pan is of the dumpingvariety, open at the top and having front and rear Walls 2G, 26 and end Walls 2'?. The bottom of the pan is normally closed and preferably comprises the bottom Wall members 28, 23 respectively which normally engage each other along their edges 29, 291. The members 28, 28 are secured to shait'ts 30, 30a, respectively, jeurnalled at the lower edges of the liront and rear members 26, 26a.

The shafts 30 and 30U- are actuated to move the members 28, 28 to and from closed position by means of levers 3l., 32 respectively. Member 32 is provided at its rear extremity with an outwardly projecting pin which is received in an elongate slot in the free extremity et' the lever 3l. Preferably the pin 33 is adjustable longitudinally ol the lever although this is not essential.

lVhen the pan occupies the position shown in Fig. l, the pin 33 is locked in the upper end et the slot 34: by means oi a latch 35. This latch consists of a lever iulernmed at 3G upon a bracket carried by the lever 3l and is preferably counteiuveighted at 3S. At its opposite end this latch lever is turnished with the stop projection or abutment 39 which contacts with the pin 33 and is further provided with an extension ll() for engagement by an actuating' element. stop lug 37 projects from the end or the pan in a position to be engaged at times by thel ceunteriveighted end 38 oi the latch lever in aA manner which Twill hereinafter be more fully described.

1A shaft 41 is journalled in suitable bearings in the end traine of the machine and a gear 42 is secured to this shaft. This gear meshes with a gear' i3 mounted on a stub shatt secured to the end traine of the machine. A sprocket Wheel is connected to the gear and is driven by means of a chain l5 which passes about a sprocket "-.vheel on the shaft 7.

The shaft il is furnished With a pair of angularly disposed crank arms 46, et?, re spectively provided with cranhY pins preterably consisting oi it'reely turning rolls 4:8, 49. respectively. Y

ri shaft is secured to the machine :traine at a point above and slightly forward of the shaft il and upon this shaitt9 pan opening and closing' levers are mounted. The pan opening lever compris/s the 'orivardly extending' arm :El Whose toruf'ard extremity is normally positioned just above but out el contact ivith the latch extension 10.

This lever also comprises the rearreneee ivardly extending arm 53 havingI the cam :'i-l which is engageablc by the roll ll) as the latter tur. s with the shaft lll, such engagement acting to turn the lever in av counter clockwise direction se that its ttorivard end is brought into operative engagement vritl the latch extension The pan closinglever comprises the torwardly directed arm whose. forward elftreii'iit'y 5e is normally positioned in the is plane et' movement of the pin 33 an( it point atleast as loiv as the lower limiu oi the movement ot said pin. Prefer; bly he arm of this lever is Formed separately from the remainder thereof and maj.' be ad j'usted by means et bolts 56 passing' through slots in the main body et the lever.

The pan closing lever also comprises the downwardly extending;` arm 5? ivhich is provided With the cam This cam comprises the riser 59, the divell GO and the deseendirig` potien (Sl, and lies in the plane of rotation of the crank pin roll eL-8, the parts being so disposed that contact ot the roll with the cam causes the l-ver to swing; in a clockA Wise direction. ljrei'erabiy the roll d8 adjustable longitudinally of the crank arm LG to permit variation in the movement olf the pan closing' lever. This lever turnished with au uoivardly and rearwardly 95 extending' arm 'G2 vfhose )urp is more fully described hereafter.

rfi bridge member or l Y o'aclet (35% is adjustably secured by means of a pin and slet con nection, indicated at 6ft, to the iframe et the machine at a point immediately above the pan. This bridge member i'urnished with bearings G5, (36 at its opposite ends in which levers G?, 6B respectivelyr are jeurnalled. These .levers are disposed in parallel relation and their levier extreniitics G9, 'T0 coi.- stitute stop elements l'or engagement 'with the upper edge of the pan at the points il., T2 respectively.

The upper ends el the levers pivotally connected at the points i respectively-x, with the opposite ends et' a link 75 which constrains the levers to turn syn chronously. A link TG is seciu'ed te the link 75 at Vthe point. 7G, s ch linl; ,nelforably being provided with a turn buckle T? for adjusting' its length and beine connected. at 78 to the arm (Si). of the pan closing lever.

A link 79 connects the rear end olf the arm 53 of the pan opening le with the dogg l) for the purpose oit' resetiing the den' at ti. proper time. A rod 20 connects the member 2O with the scale beam 2l ping` the dog l) when the scale beam under load.

The operation ot .f lic tialljk 'follows ili ly driven th 'oug'h iiip; machine, vih il;

driven 'trein anv suitable source et newer. lo@

is suie-fw coni'in n drive shaft F' thus continuously driving the clutch pulley 13. rThe shaft l1 is also continuously driven through its connection With the shatt- 7. il] hen the dog 19 occupies the position .shown in Fig. 1, the shalt 12 is clutched to the pulley 13 theieby driving the various instrument-edities carried by the shafts 3, l and 15, as Well as the spilte apron, and thus oo ntinuously lifting liber from the bin 2 and dropping it into the scale pan Which attnis time occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. W'hen the pan has received its predetermined load the scale beam tips and through the rod 2Oa releases the dog 19 which engages the teeth 18 ot the member 17 theieby disengaging the clutch elements and causing shaft 12 to stop. Further dropping ot the fiber into the scale nan now ceases until the shaft 12 is aoain started.

fitter the iilled pen has descended it remains closed until rotation ot shalt 41 brings the roll i9 into engagement with cam 5l, whereupon the arm 51 is swung downwardly into engagement with the latch extension llt). Yllhis nieves the abutment out oi the path ot pin 38, whereupon the latter slides 'freely along the slot Bel, allowing the bottom Wells 28, 2Sa ot the pan to swing.- 'freely open thus diunping the material onto the conveyor G.

llhen the pan is -fully opened, the pin 33 occupies the position shoivn in Fig. 3, and in this posit-ion the counteriveight 8S on the latch would tend to swing the abutment 39 into the path et the pin 33, thus proventingclosing the pan. At this time, however, the counteriveight engages the lng 37 so that s v.ch undesired movement of the latch is prevented.

The empty pan now remains in the position shown in llig'. 3 until the rotation ot roll t8 brings it into engagement With the cam riser 59, gradually lifting' the arm 55 of the pan closing; lever. This arm raises the pin and at the same time swings the scale beam upwardly to its normal position, the

movement continuing' until the pin hss reached the position shown in Fig. 4l, et

this i stnt the cam roll d8 encounters the dwell portion ol the cam, thus retaining` the parts tor a predetermined time in the position shown in Fig'. 4l. ll/lovement of the pan closing,` lever as thus desci'ibed canse, the link T6, acting upon the connecting link '75, to swing the stop levers 67, (S8 troni the position olf Fig. 2 to the position et Fig. Ll so that their' loivei: extremities are disposet just above the opposite corneis T1, 7 2 ot the pan. fis these levers are disposed. upon opposite sides ot the pivotal axis ot the pan, and as they are ot substantially the same length, their engagement with the pan ininiediately damos any os fillation ot' the pan about its axis, the parts being thus held by the dwell portion ot the cam 5S :toi` in interval sutiiciently long to bring the pan substantially to rest. Continued movement ot the roll S now carries it from oli the dwell portion ot the cem 58 and onto the descending portion 61, whereupon the lever arm 51 retains to normal position and the stop members 6'? are. swung back to the position shown in 2. The lower extremities (it), 7G oi these stop members are ot arcuate cnrvatni'e, so that in swinging back to noiiial position they do not set np vibrations or oscillations in the pan.

l/lilhen the pan resumes its normal position the latch lever., under thel action ot its counteriveight, resumes the position shown in Fig. '-l, thus locking the movable members 28 and 28 in closed position.

The pen is 'thus restored to its normal load receiving; position with the opening and closing devices tree 'from cont-ect therewith so that they do not in any manner inteitero with the free moven'ient ot the pnn oi1 of the scale beam ns the load is placed theiein.

fis the i opening lever resumes its normal position it restores the dog; 19 to the position shoivn in Fig. 1, thus estai'ting the shaft 12, the parts being so timed that the pan is returned to its noimal load receiving position ant. comes to rest piioi to the starting of shaft 12.

During' the operadon ot the machine, the trictional engagement ot the trip device 2O with the lng; 191 ot the clutch dog' acting through the rod 20a, serves to damp vibrations ol the scale beam such as might be transmitted thereto through the machine trame and which might theiivise cause the beam to tip prematurely.

l clair z- 1. il.. machine ot' the class described com prising` a scale beam, a scale pan tulcrumed thereon, dai'nping means, a constantly moving elenient, and ineens actuable by said elcnient periodically to move the dampingl means into engagement with they scale pan whereby temporai'ily to prevent oscillations ot the latter about its nlcrum.

A machine ot the class described coinprising a scale beam, a scale pan tulcrumed upon the beam, means 'for moving the pan to a predetermined position, noimally inoperative damping means disposed above the pan, and means for moving said damping means do\vn-.vardly into engagement with the pan While the latter occupies said predetermined position whereby to damp the oscillation ot the pan about its 'tulcrum on the beam.

3. A machine of the class described coniprisinp,l a scale beam, a duinoing scale pan tulcrnmed upon the beam, means Ytor restoiin the pan to normahload receiving position sitter dumping, n( inally inoperative means movable into position to damp oscillations olf the pan, and fintomatie means connected to the power restoiing means tor moving said Clamping nieuns to and from operativo position.

4f. A machins ol the Class described soinprising zi 'falo benin? :i humping soule uloruniod upon the boron moans fot ingthe pan to normal, load rocoii'ing position zitter dumping, normally inolorzitivo moans ongzigoalile with tlio prin to fl mp i'ifi oscillations as it rosunws novo' and moans inoi'ing in. iini rostoring means tor autom ing tho damping inonns 'i lation to the an? and for storing siiivxl tliunping n @auf position prior to delivery ot t the prin.

5. A machine of the ol`v prising a scale boum a1 i i :fulcruniod upon tiro Noam, inermi ing the pan to lonrl roooivin dumping, normally in' flzunping the oscillzit :is the latter resumes means :iu'toimitioiilljv tion to the restoring damping means into :i position.

G. A niaoliino olf tlio olziss prising` zi scale Lenin :i i otziliy supporiod tliorcbj, means actuated by til@ slur xsori ,boil coin` L ,1. .L 'Y A17 1o lestoio the pmi lo normal ion@ i posltlon after tipping oli' tlio sz-:alo i dumping of tlm fain, u 'pivotal Stoii engaging the empty pain as it Joslin nml position whereby t tions of 'the pmi, :intl n said rotary shaft for S DOT lied by i .1A i gagging i sooo o i', i

l element from the pan 'r or i :loi f'oy oi tlio load into tlio, latter.

f' 'l ,if VL`I 1. il in: como or mi class prising n scalo liv-ain, i omi' pivotally supported llior by rotary slizi'tt, iii/zins acti rostoro tlio seule pim to loa rocoiviir i osition a'ttor the beam has tipps@ under li pivototl stop monili. norms, n, posilioiio; out, of Contact with the pan, anal nieuws also actuated by tlio rotaryv slizit Yfor turning said stop inoinlic-r into position to ciry l empty pan Wliertliy to (lmnp os *allions :is it rosiunos its load resolving position,

A machin@ oit tllo Class prisiug r. scalo ocu otiilly supported ili i oliv, means for rrwloring 'tho pain to noixnfil loatl-rocoiving tion zrttor dumping, ii loifor disposed :1 tho pun having :i stop oloniont normally Sitionod out: ot Contact with the prin) ln, :i dumping 112m pix'- ilieiiiis connocino' fniifl lover Yitlr the restoring moan (o: i yx' wir-:int by the l; v

whereby to posit on its Sto?) oloinoiit Vi'or (vgzig'onmnt Wi iii tiro 9. A machin@ prising 21 Pivo "lio class flesoribecl @our supiortod scalo pain norwith tl o lutter to provoiitits oscillation. 'To

l0. A. machine ol tho class t'lrosorilmi como prising a piif'otzilly supportofi sirzo pun nori'nallu/ treo to osoilluto :bout its pivotal axisr` p ol stop lovers disposed resi/actively c to sitios of tlio pivotal 7:;

i L i unil moans lor simultan iid. lovers into position lo io pain.

with trio i i. im s describen com scalo por; norv iu 'inzilly to hohl tlio wir' stop oloinonts out ol Conpun, but at intervals shout ieoisly to swing thorn into on'i'zig'immi'' Doctivo lovers, ai

inopor( :iro (lzmipii stopping scillzition oit the pain about pivotal rfi? mtl a link Comiostiou ii@ VL 'tlio latten' ogt-zrm 115 'tivo :.S the soule benin rrzirlios iiorizml in, ition. A

14. A iiizioliino ot' tiro cl (i vr-ritmi roiixprising 21 scolo berlin und n (humping .it-:ilo pun iivotiiily slipliortotl tlic-rily, n prm'vr Lc-'mistoVV minimi r restoring;Y tiro lic-21m lo normal iosilioi ritter the tlv.;

air of lovers provi@ ole-monts normal j will mourir 'tinted inem vor siinultzuioouslj: to tioir Stop olonioi into om' i xs tho lio-:1in rosiliiir-fs norlill) o if tiro )Coti Wijf i nml pos ing of the movable Wall of the pan7 and the other to restore said Wall to normal position.

Q?. il machine of the class described comprising a scale beam, a duniping` scale pan supported thereby, said pan having a normally closed movable Wall, a pair of vertically spaced elements normally free from contact ivith parts supported by the scale beam, and means 'for moving` said elements in timed relation whereby tiret to initiate openingl oi the vvall ol' the pan and thereafter to restore said Wall to normal position.

2S. A machine of the class described comprising a scale beam, a scale pan provided With a normally closed movable Wall, a pair of levers having vertically spaced extremities normally free from contact with parte supported by the scale beam, a power shaft, and means actuated thereby ior moving one oit said levers to initiate openingof the movable Wall ol the pan and thereafter to move the other lever to restore said Wall to normal position.

29. A machine of the class described comprising a scale beam7 a dumpingr scale pan supported thereby, said pan having a movable ivall, a latch normally holding the vrall in closed position, a lever it'or rcleasin,y the latch to dump the pan, a second lever constructed and arranged to engage a part carried by the beam and to restore the latter to normal position after tippingv nnacr load, said second lever also closing` the movable Wall of the pan alter dumping, and a pmver driven shalt for actuating said levers in timed relation.

30. A machine of the class described comprising a scale beam supporting; a dumpii y scale pan having a latch controlled closnr a power driven shaft havingv a pair of cran arms thereon, crank pins carried by the rcspective arms7 and a pair of levers operable by the respective crank pins, one ot said levers having a latch releasingv element, and

the other lever beinpr constructed and arranged to restore the pan to normal position after dumping` and to reset the latch.

Signed by me at Boston7 Mass., this 3rd day of May 1923 JOSEPH B. HOVE 

